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A few players got banged up in the Alabama game and were out or limited in practice today. Here's the full injury report, per USC head coach Clay Helton: DE Noah Jefferson (shoulder sprain), LB Quinton Powell (illness), TE Taylor McNamara (ankle), DT Khaliel Rodgers (hamstring), C Toa Lobendahn (knee swelling).
- Freshman DB Jamel Cook practiced in pads for the first time as a Trojan today, participating for about 30 minutes.
- Helton announced that LBs Osa Masina and Don Hill will not play in Saturday's game.
- Helton characterized today's practice as "ultra-competitive" and called the Trojans "a mad football team" following their 52-6 loss to Alabama.
- RT Zach Banner (pictured) agreed that today's practice was especially intense, and noted that the team immediately got back to work following the loss. "Everyone was here getting the extra lift in on Sunday, rather than waiting until Monday," Banner said. "We had almost 70 players lifting Sunday afternoon and then after that, watching film and getting dinner together and being around each other. Loving up on each other, getting ready to come out this week."
- Banner mentioned that this is the closest he's ever seen the team. "We're a family. We're close-knit," he said. "And that's a reflection of our head coach."
- Helton acknowledged that against Alabama, the team had issues with giving up big plays on defense and missing assignments on offense, but that one of the most important fixes the team would have to make is controlling a quarterback run-driven offense. Helton praised Utah State's Kent Myers as a dual-threat QB who has runs designed for him but can also create plays for himself.
- Justin Davis will look to have a big day running the ball against Utah State, and believes that his coaches and his offensive line will help make that happen. "The run game --- that's the thing that ultimately gets our offense running," he said. "We're run first, and we've got the guys up front to do it."
- Here is Helton's full press conference:
